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#89769 10/20/04 11:16 AM
Joined: Mar 2003
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Come On!! a Splice joining two wires together, a Tap is a Tap! Look in A.E.I.E. book I referenced if that ain;t a Tap I;ll eat my Hat. Tapping a smaller conductor to a smaller is A T A P ..

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#89770 10/20/04 12:23 PM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,374
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Yoopersup: You use your definition, I'll use the NEC definition.


Ryan Jackson,
Salt Lake City
#89771 10/20/04 01:48 PM
Joined: Mar 2003
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2002 nec handbook 230.46 page 138-140 under code section explaining contents of Section says :And TAPS on the line side of the Service disconnecting means.
Notice TAPS for suppplying Up to six disconnecting means.All references in article 240 are for feeders Includeing Taps as it Plainly states.240.1 Tap conductors(OTHER THEN SERVICE CONDUCTORS)Also look under index in Code under TAps Refers you to 230.46 for service conductors.So I would say your Right the code CLEARLY says what a tap is .Splice ya right !

#89772 10/20/04 01:56 PM
Joined: Jul 2004
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You boys are doing what makes me so crazy about inspectors. Starting a fistfight about whether "tap" is being used as a noun or a verb.
Obviously the 240 "tap" <the noun> rules have no meaning since they refer to overcurrent protection and for all practical purposes service conductors have none.
The real question was whether you could "tap"<the verb>, meaning to splice another conductor to, a service conductor and that is clearly legal.


Greg Fretwell
#89773 10/20/04 05:08 PM
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All I'm doing is using the NEC definition and pointing out that in my opinion, the question is misworded and therefore I selected the best answer. Can you splice? Absolutley. Refer back to my first post and I think you'll agree that I would allow either a splice or a second set of service entrance conductors, but I do believe you could never call a connection to a service conductor a tap.


Ryan Jackson,
Salt Lake City
#89774 10/20/04 05:32 PM
Joined: Aug 2003
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I'm going to add just a little fuel here.

If you were to talk with someone with a good knowledge of the code, as most of us here possess (and yes, that includes Yoopersup), and said "I'm going to tap a feeder circuit", we would want to know if we were talking 10', 25', outside unlimitted, et cetera. If that person came back and said, "no I don't mean that, I mean I am joining the conductors together with a wire nut", must of us would say "why did you call it a tap instead of a splice?"

Am I wrong in my logic here?


Ryan Jackson,
Salt Lake City
#89775 10/20/04 11:19 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,507
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In Michigan, it is not uncommon for a "strip store" type of building to have numerious tenants and each tenant has his own set of Service Entrance conductors. These Service Entrance Conductors originate in what is called around her a "Tap Box". The Service Point is at this tap box that contains bus bars. These buss bars are Service Entrance conductors albeit they are bars. The installer "taps" this supply with smaller conductors and complies with 230.46. Everyone that I deal with would call this a tap. This tap box is on the customer side of the Service Point and is inspected by the AHJ. I agree with the Yooper.


George Little
#89776 10/21/04 03:23 AM
Joined: May 2003
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Uh...... I didn't find a definition for "tap" in the code. Or splice either. I believe them to mean the same thing.

American Electrician's Handbook defines it as this:

Quote
Tap or Tap circuit is a circuit which serves a single energy utilizing devise, and is connected directly to a branch without the interposition of a cutout.

Funny, I can't find a definition for 'splice' in it?

Of course we all know that most of the content of that book was written in the early 1900's, when language was different than it is now for many things. But I do think we are ALL talking about apples, not oranges, right? [Linked Image]


Mark Heller
"Well - I oughta....." -Jackie Gleason
#89777 10/21/04 08:22 AM
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 849
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Try 230.82
(Equipment connected to the Supply Side of Service Disconnect)#4
TAPS Another section where TAPS are allowed ahead of the Main Switch. Just another POINT of info to bring into the Discussion. [Linked Image])

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